Cross-sectional associations of asthma, hay fever, and other allergies with major depression and low-back pain among adults aged 20-39 years in the United States
by
Hurwitz EL, Morgenstern H
Department of Epidemiology,
UCLA School of Public Health,
Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Am J Epidemiol 1999 Nov 15; 150(10):1107-16


ABSTRACT

Although low-back pain and depression are common comorbidities, the mechanisms responsible for their association remain unclear. The effects of proinflammatory cytokines on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis lead to the hypothesis that allergic reactions, as markers for inflammation-associated activation of the HPA axis, result in aberrant responses to subsequent stressors. Data from 6,836 US adults 20-39 years old from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) were used. Subjects responded to questions regarding low-back pain in the past 12 months and history of asthma, hay fever, and other allergies. The history and onset of major depression were obtained from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the associations between allergies and depression and low-back pain. Subjects with a history of any allergy were more likely to report low-back pain (odds ratio = 1.51; 95% confidence interval: 1.16, 1.96), to be diagnosed with major depression (odds ratio = 1.58; 95% confidence interval: 1.13, 2.21), and much more likely to have both major depression and low-back pain (odds ratio = 3.03; 95% confidence interval: 1.32, 6.92). Hypersensitivity reactions may prime the HPA axis to respond aberrantly to stressors, resulting in physical and behavioral consequences.
Eczema
Skincare
Back pain
Depression
New drugs for eczema
Allergy and depression
The cholinergic-adrenergic axis
Tianeptine and depressive asthmatics
St John's wort (Kira, Alterra) for atopic dermatitis


Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Good Drug Guide

The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family